The Cavaliers defeat the Pistons and will play against the Knicks in the Eastern Finals

The Cleveland Cavaliers are already in the Eastern Conference finals. The Ohio franchise crushed the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in the seventh game of the series, eliminating the top seed in the East to now face the New York Knicks.

Cleveland Cavaliers put on a dominant performance from start to finish in Detroit, setting the pace from the opening tip and leaving the Detroit Pistons unanswered as they never found a way to truly get into the game. The final 31-point difference marked the third-largest victory by a visiting team in a Game 7 in NBA history.

Donovan Mitchell led the triumph with 26 points, including 15 in a crucial third quarter that sealed the game. Alongside him, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill shined with 23 points each, while Evan Mobley contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds.

For Cleveland, this marks their first presence in the Eastern Conference finals since 2018 and the ninth in their history. Additionally, it will be Mitchell's first time reaching this round in nine playoff appearances.

“We didn't just come here to achieve one goal,” Mitchell stated after the game. “Even last year, when we lost to Indiana, our goal was to make it to the NBA Finals. We are one step closer.”

The squad led by Kenny Atkinson showcased a very different version compared to the sixth game. Cleveland dominated the paint 58-34 and shot 50.6% from the field, while Detroit barely reached 35.3%.

“When we play with aggression, we are very difficult to beat,” Atkinson explained. “The difference compared to Game 6 was precisely that energy on both ends of the court.”

Detroit, who had forced the seventh game after a win on Friday, fell short of reaching their first Eastern Conference finals since 2008. Daniss Jenkins was the Pistons' top scorer with 17 points, while Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson finished with 13 each.

Easy win for the Cavs

The game was practically in the bag before halftime. Cleveland closed the first quarter with a 31-22 lead and, after a brief local comeback attempt, responded with a 24-9 run to go into halftime leading 64-47.

In the second half, the Cavaliers didn't let up and led by as much as 35 points. Detroit only managed to get as close as 17 in the third quarter before Mitchell definitively sealed the series.

Now, Cleveland will face the New York Knicks in the conference finals. The first game of the series will be played this Tuesday in New York.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Cavaliers se comen a los Pistons y jugarán ante los Knicks las Finales del Este